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Food
(Continuedfrompage 17)
sheet conlained
"al/ manner
of four–
footed beasls of the eartb, and wild
beasts, and creeping things, and fowls
ofthcair" (verse 12).
Notice this carefully. This sheet
contained every type of animal imag–
inable, including wild animals–
lions, tigers, hyenas, monkeys,
skunks. And creeping things
- snakes and lizards, vermin and
spiders. And fowl like vultures and
crows and eagles!
Peler was shocked by the sight of
all these creatures. Then, of all
things, God commanded Peter to kili
and eat of these creatures! What did
Peter say?
"Not so, Lord; for I have
never
eaten anything that is common or
unclean" (verse 14).
Peter had lived day and night with
Jesus for over three years. He cer–
tainly understood from Jesus' teach–
ing that there were sorne creatures
which are simply not fit for human
food. That is why when this vision
carne
ten years
aftér the rituals and
ceremonies were abolished at the
, cross, Peter refused to eat. He knew
that God's law of clean and unclean
meats was still in full force and
etfect!
Now notice what the voice from
heaven told Peter when he refused to
eat: "What God hath cleansed, that
call not thou common" (verse 15). It
does not say that what God cleansed
were these revolting unclean reptiles,
fowl and wild animals. It does say
that what God cleansed is not to be
called common! But what did God
cleanse?
What God Really Cleansed
In this vision which Peter saw, the
voice from heaven spoke three times,
then the sheet was received up into
heaven again. And what did Peter
do? "Peter doubted in himself what
this vision which he had seen should
mean" (verse 17). He did not imme–
diately assume like so many people
that God suddenly changed His laws
ten years after the crucifixion!
Now notice what happened!
"While Peter thought on the vision,
the Spirit said unto him, Behold,
three men seek thee. Arise therefore,
February 1980
and get thee down, and go with them,
doubting nothing: for
1
have sent
them" (verses 19-20).
The voice from heaven in the
vision spoke unto Peter three times
because three Gentile men- two ser–
vants and a soldier (verse 7)- were
at that moment on their way to see
him. Peter went with them to see
Cornelius. T his is when Peter under–
stood the vision! He confessed in
verse 28 " ... God hath shewed me
that
1
should not call any
man
com–
mon or unclean."
"What God cleansed" were not
those unclean animals, but those
Gentile men, formerly regarded as
unclean by the Jewish people.
Those unclean animals in Peter's
vision were used to symbolize the
Gentile races of
men.
The Jewish
people had been forbidden to asso–
ciate with them because of their
abominable practices. But now this
wall of spiritual separation had been
broken down and salvation was
extended to the Gentiles. Peter final–
ly realized that this was the meaning
of the vision and said, "Of a truth
1
perceive that God is no respecter of
persons: but in every nation he that
feareth him, and worketh righteous–
ness, is accepted with him" (verses
34-35) .
Yes, to be accepted with God, we
must fear Him and work righteous–
ness. Whai is righteousness? " ... All
thy commandments are righteous–
ness" (Psalms 119: 172). And among
those commandments are the laws
which tell us which kinds of Hesh are
clean and which are unclean!
Would You Eat Skunks and Rats?
But suppose God had been trying to
tell Peter-and us- that he should
eat aH the things contained in the
sheet that was Jet down in vision.
Would you eat those "creepi ng
things"-lizards, snakes, spiders?
Would you eat skunks and hyenas?
Of course you wouldn' t! Why?
Because you h.ave your own law of
what you think is clean and un–
clean!
Common sense tells us that God
did not intend for us to eat every
creature. But wejust a ren't willing to
Jet our Creator tell us which meats
will give us lasting health and
strength, and which ones a re inju–
rious to our bodies, and will eventual-
ly bring on more sickness and dis–
ease.
It
is time we Jet God tell us
what is clean and what is unclean
instead of using our faulty human
reason!
Sorne people, however, still want
to argue with God. One text they will
bring up is found in
1
Timothy 4:1 -5.
Read it carefu ll y.
Notice that these "doctrines of
devils" include "commanding to ab–
stain from meats which God hath
created to be received with thanks–
giving...." By whom? "Of them
which believe and know the truth."
What is truth? Christ said, "Thy
word is trulh" (John 17: 17). Then
the Bible itse1f reveals the truth
concerning which meats are good for
food. We should not refuse to eat any
food which, according to truth, God
created to be eaten with thanksgiv–
ing. But this does not mean that all
meats a re healthfu1 and fit for the
human body.
Notice that the false doctrine is
commanding to abstain from meats
which are thankfully received by
those who believe and know the trulh
-who know God's Word. But God' s
Word- the Holy Bible- tells us that
there
are
sorne meats which are
"unclean," and are not lo be received
with thanksgiving!
Now consider what verses 4 and 5
tell us: " For every creature of God is
good, and nothing lO be refused,
if
il
be received wilh thanksgiving; for il
is
sanctified
by the word of God and
prayer." What does it mean to be
SANCTIFIED
by the Word of God and
prayer?
"Sanctify" is a word meaning to
make holy, or set apart for a righl use
or purpose- lo set aparl as fil for
human food.
Now which meats has God sancti–
fied for human food? The only pas–
sages in all lhe Bible showing which
meals God sanclified are found in
Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
Here you find lhal il is the "clean' '
- hea1thful- meats which are good
for fóod. These a re the on1y meats
thal can be received wilh lhanksgiv–
ing and prayer!
There is not a single scripture
showing that God ever set apart as fit
for food any unclean creatures
-snai1s. oysters, clams, snakes, octo–
puses, eels, horses, rabbits, or swine!
Yet people eal these creatures with-
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